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AG MNYIM MISLEADING THE ALIA ADMINISTRATION

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…He Should Honourably Resign

By Terver Akase

We read a newspaper report in which the Benue State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Fidelis Mnyim, was quoted as saying, “the present government is still suffering from the consent judgments amounting to N3.6 billion entered into by the immediate past administration of Samuel Ortom.”

We recall that in October last year (2023), the same Attorney General, Barrister Mnyim, claimed in a widely published report that the current government inherited a debt profile of over N14 billion as consent judgment from the Ortom administration.

The apparent contradictions in the statements of the Attorney General smack of the schemes of an official who, though appointed to advise and guide the government on legal matters, is on a mission to mislead the same government and set his principal on a perpetual collision course with others for reasons only known to him. If the Attorney General has no idea what his role in government is, the honorable thing to do is to resign instead of engaging in hackneyed anti-Ortom narratives to massage his motives.

Barrister Mnyim, as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, is expected to know that a majority of the issues he raised in the said media report pertain to pensions and gratuity cases. There are records to show that the Ortom administration inherited pension and gratuity arrears that spanned several previous administrations, with many court cases filed by pensioners still unresolved when Chief Ortom took office in 2015.

One such case was the enhancement of minimum wage for Benue teachers. The teachers had concluded plans to embark on a strike before His Excellency Ortom was sworn into office in 2015. He had to swiftly meet with the aggrieved teachers, who explained to him the source of their frustration. Governor Ortom pleaded with the teachers to shelve the planned strike and assured them that his administration would not only implement the N18,000 minimum wage but also begin to pay the teachers’ salary arrears that had accumulated before he took over. Governor Ortom fulfilled the promise to the relief and appreciation of the teachers.

When the present administration came to power in 2023, relying on the advice of the state Attorney General’s office, the payment arrangement that the Ortom government had agreed upon with Benue teachers—who felt betrayed and approached the court to seek redress—was jettisoned. So if there is any garnishee court order, the Attorney General knows better than anyone else that the decision to default on the arrears payment agreement the government had with the teachers is one of the bases for the litigations resulting in garnishees.

It is equally imperative to state that when Chief Ortom came to office in 2015 and met pension arrears of other retirees running into billions of naira, some of the court cases had led to the garnishing of accounts of the state. In his characteristic humanitarian approach, Governor Ortom recognized the fact that the senior citizens had served the state honourably and deserved to be treated with dignity. Consequently, he chose not to contest the claims of the pensioners in court and instead sought amicable resolutions to the disputes.

The State Government under Governor Ortom reached an agreement with the retirees and began to pay their pension arrears and gratuity as financial resources permitted at the time. This was in the face of a challenging economic climate characterized by significantly reduced federal allocations to states. Nigeria experienced two separate recessions in 2016 and 2020, while the COVID-19 pandemic worsened the economic situation.

The Attorney General should blame himself for the wrong advice that resulted in the government’s decision to abandon the payment arrangements established by the previous administration, prompting the retirees to revert to legal action.

Interestingly, the current Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Mnyim, previously represented clients who litigated against the Benue State Government. He should clarify to the media whether the cases he handled contributed to the garnishee orders leading to the reported N3.6 billion.

The former Benue State Governor, Chief Samuel Ortom, prays for his successor, His Excellency Governor Hyacinth Alia, and wishes that he succeeds in providing the dividends of democracy to our people. This is why since he left office over a year ago, he has not engaged in any act of sabotage against the Alia administration, and he has no intention of doing so.

Chief Ortom will continue to pray and wish the present administration well, believing that the success of Governor Alia is the success of all Benue people.

Terver Akase, is a media Adviser, to the immediate past governor of Benue state.

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Jos DisCo to Launch Feeders Management System and Bilateral Arrangements

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Jos Electricity Distribution Plc (JED) has announced the upcoming launch of its Feeders Management System and Bilateral Arrangements starting on November 1, 2024. This initiative aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of energy distribution to customers.

In a press release signed by Dr. Friday Adakole Elijah, the Head of Corporate Communications, JED stated that the new system is designed to provide customers with consistent and reliable electricity based on their service bands, ultimately enhancing customer satisfaction.

As part of the scheme, 76 feeders classified under Band A have been selected, with a commitment to ensure uninterrupted power supply in accordance with the Band A schedule. Customers on these feeders will be required to pay for 100% of their consumed energy.

To support the program’s success, JED has established a seven-member team for each feeder, consisting of a network engineer, a marketer, and other personnel dedicated to ensuring seamless energy delivery and managing post-paid billing. This team will also focus on promoting collaboration to achieve customer satisfaction.

In line with its commitment to providing 100% of the promised energy supply, JED expects customers to fulfill their obligations by paying their energy bills in full each month, as partial payments will no longer be accepted. Only customers who have settled their bills will continue to receive electricity, and defaulters will be disconnected from the supply.

Customers are encouraged to embrace the new system to enjoy improved services and reliable electricity.

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Kebbi Government Disburses N629m Compensation for Tsamiya Inland Dry Port and Argungu Old Bypass Road Dualization

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The Kebbi State government has allocated a total of N629.455 million in compensation to individuals whose farmlands and properties were acquired for the construction of the Tsamiya Inland Dry Port in Shaguna, Bagudo Local Government Area, as well as for the dualization of the Argungu Old Bypass Road.

Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Lands and Housing, confirmed the disbursement in Birnin Kebbi. He stated that ₦289.542 million was paid to compensate for over 200 hectares of land and economic trees acquired for the Tsamiya Inland Dry Port project, located in a border town between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin. This payment was made on Wednesday and was witnessed by various officials, including the Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Hon. Muhammad Dangi Juli, and the Bagudo Local Government Chairman.

Ahmed expressed satisfaction with the successful execution of the compensation process, attributing its effectiveness to the cooperation from the local community. He also thanked Governor Nasir Idris for ensuring the availability of the necessary funds.

The Permanent Secretary emphasized the importance of the Tsamiya Inland Dry Port for enhancing trade and commerce between Kebbi State and the Republic of Benin, which is expected to facilitate easier movement of goods and boost the local economy.

Additionally, the government disbursed ₦339.913 million for the compensation of structures affected by the 6.5 km dualization of the Argungu Old Bypass Road, a project that was recently flagged off by Governor Nasir Idris. This compensation was also distributed in Argungu in the presence of relevant officials and community leaders.

Ahmed praised the state government for the timely release of funds, stressing that it would facilitate the prompt completion of these crucial projects.

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Borno: Governor Zulum Praises NCAA DG Najomo for Enhancing Aviation Safety

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Borno State Governor Prof. Babagana Zulum has commended the safety standards in Nigeria’s aviation sector, attributing this achievement to the leadership of Captain Chris Najomo, the Acting Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

During a courtesy visit to the NCAA in Abuja, Zulum acknowledged the significant improvements in the aviation sector since Najomo took office, highlighting enhanced compliance with flight regulations and safety measures. He noted that Nigeria continues to attract investments in aviation due to the confidence investors have in the regulatory authority.

Zulum stated, “No one is and should be surprised at what is happening in the sector. On a daily basis, we see developments in different aspects of the industry. It all has to do with the leadership of the civil aviation authority. When you put the right person in position, this is what you get. Here you find a round peg in a round hole, so you do not expect anything different than the success being recorded. I commend the DGCA and his team and urge you to keep the flag flying.”

In response, Capt. Najomo emphasized the NCAA’s goal to ensure that Nigeria’s aviation industry competes on a global scale, saying, “Ease of doing business” is his primary focus, complemented by “Ease of doing business without compromising safety.”

Najomo also expressed sympathy for the recent flooding in Borno State, commending Governor Zulum for his development efforts and flood management. The two leaders discussed potential collaborations that would benefit both Borno and the NCAA.

In a related development, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), led by Mr. Kamil Alawadhi, Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, visited the NCAA to discuss partnership opportunities for workforce training and retraining. Key priorities included meeting mandatory requirements for the Civil Aviation Authority, cost recovery, and providing IATA and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) training for staff.

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